Red Octane: Annual <cite>Guitar Hero</cite> Release, Other Instruments Under Consideration

Speaking to Eurogamer, Red Octane's Kai Huang says that Activision plans to make Guitar Hero an annually released franchise, and that other instrument-based gaming is under consideration:

I think that fans can definitely expect that we're going to have one major release a year, and then what we're doing beyond that major release is to release update packs and content packs so there's more songs.

We're definitely looking and evaluating and have been evaluating all types of different instrument-based games, and drum is certainly one of the ones that we've been looking at.

They'd better do it quickly, considering that Electronic Arts intends to release its online drum/guitar/vocals game Rock Band this year. Can the power of Activision/Red Octane/Neversoft team up to make Guitar Hero III competitive? This holiday season, watch as a formerly niche genre turns into one of the industry's bloodiest battles.
Guitar Hero III's Rock n' Roll Star [Eurogamer]